Thanks to Pam P.
| Today’s top good news story — |
| A hydrogen-powered commuter airplane just made a historic, record-setting flight Last week in Washington state, a 40-person airplane powered by hydrogen fuel successfully made a historic flight. The plane had a traditional jet engine on its left side and an electric motor completely powered by hydrogen on its right. After takeoff, the Universal Hydrogen airplane essentially turned off the gas engine and relied almost entirely on the hydrogen-powered engine. It flew for 15 minutes and became the largest plane ever “to cruise principally on hydrogen.” It’s just one carbon-free travel innovation scientists are working on to help the aviation industry reach its emission-reduction goals. Whereas traditional jet fuel releases emissions and particulate pollution, this plane’s hydrogen system gives off only water vapor and heat. What’s the nuance? Some critics say hydrogen fuel won’t be a magic solution (there rarely are!) to getting the aviation industry to lower its emissions enough to make a difference in fighting climate change. Additionally, it requires a lot of storage space on board the plane, which would significantly reduce the number of seats on the plane, especially for longer flights. Still, transitioning away from fossil fuels is non-negotiable, so we’re glad to see some progress and innovation being made in the airline industry. → Read more |
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| More good news — |
| Two women in Atlanta started a nonprofit to help formerly incarcerated people navigate life after their release. Barred Business provides funding, housing, and training while advocating for legal protections for people who have faced unemployment and homelessness after incarceration. Thailand will ban imports of plastic waste from other countries at the end of 2024. Sending our waste around the world to be disposed of is environmental injustice at its worst, and we’re glad Thailand is taking action (we’re just sorry we weren’t the ones to do it). A solar panel manufacturer in Switzerland announced it’s shifting away from using any plastic in its panels. Meyer Burger says the shift to 100% glass panels will lead to faster scalability and it’s just better technology. |
| Good read of the week — |
 We Should All Be Feminists By Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie This personal, eloquently-argued essay was adapted from the much-admired TEDx talk of the same name — and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie offers readers a unique definition of feminism for the twenty-first century. Why we’re reading: We love a good Ted Talk, but sometimes the shorter format leaves us wanting more! In audiobook format, this book is a 45-minute lesson — so still short and digestible, but expands on the author’s brilliant talk. → Get the book (it’s under $10!)→ Get the audiobook |
| More good bits — |
| 🎙 Arnold Schwarzenegger has a message for anyone “who has chosen the path of hate,” and it’s a masterclass in active reparations. 🪠 Sometimes solving problems is challenging, nuanced, and complex. Sometimes it’s quite simple. 👖 We’re just here to elevate the incredibly important voice… of thrift stores. 🏳️⚧️ In the midst of an onslaught of anti-trans legislation, sentiment, and hate… a moment of joy and celebration. Some of these recommendations may include affiliate links, which means if you buy anything from this email, we may get something in return at no extra cost to you. (Thanks for your support!) |